Crafting A Flute

  In the early days of the Southwest, flutes were crafted from bones and local reeds. Reeds have natural chambers that made up the primary and secondary chambers. After bone flutes, the earliest flutes today were created by the half hollow method. The original half hollow method is where a piece of wood is split in half and two chambers are carved out with a sharp rock. The two halves are then glued back together using tree sap or hoof glue as a bonding agent between the two pieces of wood forming the flute body. Then the two pieces were held together tightly by wrapping them in rawhide, sinew or leather.

  The instrument consists of dual chambers with a bypass created by the block (carving) to divert the air from the first chamber over the top of the second chamber. It is from this hole in the top of the second chamber sound resonates, referred to as the sound hole. Each flute is tuned to a fundamental note based on the overall length of the secondary chamber, the diameter of the bore and the thickness of the wood. Originally the length of the flute was determined by the length of the maker’s arm. The distance between the finger holes were spaced by the space between his knuckles and the finger holes would start a hands distance from the end of the flute body.

  It is customary to attach a small carving to the main body of the flute to divert the air from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber. This block or carving is considered a totem, also called a fetish, which is usually sculpted after an animal or abstract of an animal. The carving is held in place by a leather tie.

  The flute’s sound can vary based on many things such as: the length of the secondary chamber, diameter of the bore, thickness of the body, type of wood and the carving of the sound hole. In general the harder the wood the cleaner the sound, which produces sharper notes. The softer woods sound mellow and produce a very soothing sound. Some describe the sound of the flute as crying or haunting. People that have never heard the Native American flute before sometimes do not believe the sound produced, from this seemingly simple instrument. Of course this will vary based on the player.

  The flute can be played by anyone that can learn to calm their breath and learn a number of simple techniques. Most people that play the flute enjoy both softwood and hardwood flutes. Native American flutes can be crafted as 5 or 6 hole flutes. Each of these note holes as well as the fundamental must be tuned. The native flute is traditionally based on the pentatonic scale (meaning 5 notes) versus a diatonic scale, although it can be crafted or played as such.